This was my second time racing the Gasparilla Classic and my first time attempting the Ultra Challenge. The race was well organized from beginning to the end. The biggest challenge was finding parking for the expo and parking the morning of the races. Big recommendation is to get downtown early to find a place to park. The map provided in the booklet given at the expo is beneficial with a map of nearby parking garages. The booklet is full of great information needed for race day is a great resource to rely on before the race.
The entire weekend this year was quite warm for all four races. The organizers did a great job with having water sprayers along the course to assist with keeping runners cool and plenty of hydration stations along the course. I enjoyed the markers letting runners know when they reached the halfway point of each race.
The courses were very runner-friendly. There were not any pinch points for runners to get jammed up with each other. There was plenty of room to maneuver along the course and easily navigate through the water stations. There was on course support locations and entertainment to keep you moving along the course as well.
Post race was excellent too. There was a station to hold your medal from the first race of the day to be picked up after the second race. After the races, there were plenty of drinks and food for the runners to enjoy. The best part was it set up in the shade underneath a breezeway.